Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
The University of Bolton Stadium
Tuesday 16 August 2022
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Attendance: 17,165 (764 Shrimps).
Conor Bradley’s strike late into the first-half was enough for Bolton Wanderers to claim all three points at the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was Ian Evatt’s side who had the first real opening of the game, a corner from Aaron Morley was sent into the mixer and met on the head by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, but the Icelandic forward headed wide from close range.
On the 31st minute the hosts were in again, a ball down the left found Declan John who whipped a lovely ball into the penalty area in the direction of Bradley, but the winger’s header lacked direction thankfully.
Four minutes later it was the turn of Whites captain Gethin Jones to have a pop at goal, he stole the ball off Arthur Gnahoua outside of the Morecambe box before setting himself up to shoot, however his left-footed effort was high and wide.
The pressure paid off on the 39th minute when a ball from the left managed to make its way through to Bradley, who turned his man before firing past Connor Ripley in the Shrimps goal.
Half-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Morecambe
Derek Adams’ side came inches away from levelling nine minutes after the restart, a stunning free-kick into the box by Ash Hunter was nodded wide by Ryan Delaney who was up from the back.
On the 76th minute, the home side came close to adding a second. A whipped delivery into the penalty area by Morley was parried to the edge of the box by Ripley, the ball was picked up by Kyle Dempsey who flashed his effort wide of the mark.
With eight minutes remaining Bolton thought they had the game wrapped up, another ball into the box this time by Dempsey was headed narrowly wide by substitute Amadou Bakayoko.
Hunter was the shining light in the Shrimps' arsenal on the night and it was another of his crosses that caused the Whites’ back-line trouble, this time he picked out Farrend Rawson who could only find the hands of James Trafford.
Full-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Morecambe
Bolton Wanderers: Trafford, Jones (C), John, Johnston, Bodvarsson (Bakayoko 73’), Aimson, Morley, Lee (Williams 82’), Bradley, Dempsey (Sadlier 90’), Kachunga (Afolayan 73’).
Subs not used: Dixon, Iredale, Khumbeni.
Goals: Bradley 39’.
Bookings: Bradley 90’.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Ripley, Love (C), Melbourne (Taylor 59’), Gibson, Rawson, Delaney, Hunter, Gnahoua (Fane 83’), Weir, Obika (Connolly 74’).
Subs not used: Smith, Watts, McLoughlin, O’Connor.
Goals: None.
Bookings: Melbourne 23’.
Red cards: None.